Dwindling Confidence in the Performance Promise

Work harder for more money, more recognition, more time? Sounds fair—but fewer and fewer people believe it.

According to a representative Statista survey, two-fifths of the working population in Germany doubt that hard work generally pays off. Just under 60% remain convinced of the promise of rewards. Yet many are by no means lacking in motivation: 44% would be willing to work beyond what is required if they were offered something in return. The most common reason cited for not doing so is a lack of fair pay, followed by a lack of appreciation and concerns about their own quality of life.

Amid this tension, younger employees in particular report feeling significant pressure to perform, with three-quarters of them wishing for shorter working hours. The main reasons cited for reducing working hours are more time for family, hobbies, and relaxation. While 50% of respondents consider a 4-day workweek to be sensible, just under 41% are also satisfied with a 5-day workweek.

We were also interested in these topics:

• More Job Changes: The proportion of employees who change jobs within a year rose by 13% between 2013 and 2024, as the IAB reports. The increase in occupational mobility can be observed across all salary levels, though it is most pronounced among men in the low-wage segment.

• “Blue Book” application period has begun: Applications for the European Commission’s internship program are open through September 4. For the first time, graduates of vocational education and training programs are also eligible to apply, and interns will receive new financial grants. The internship begins in March 2027.

• A New Start in Your Career After 40: The AufRuhr magazine published by the Mercator Foundation examines the challenges and opportunities of changing jobs after age 40 and introduces the free career program “Aufstieg 40+,” which offers concrete support options and is specifically aimed at people aged 40 and older from low-income and non-academic backgrounds.

This text first appeared as an editorial in the weekly politjobs newsletter. If you’d like to receive this newsletter—featuring the latest jobs in the political sector—directly by email every Wednesday, you can subscribe here.